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Contract Crowdsourcing 2019-20: The KBO and NPB Ballot

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract-crowdsourcing project this offseason, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2019-20 free-agent market.

Below are ballots for four of this year’s possible free agents — in this case, a group of players who may come to (or return to) Major League Baseball from Japan and Korea.

Shogo Akiyama, the 31-year-old left-handed center fielder who has been playing for the NPB’s Saitama Seibu Lions, was recently confirmed as an international free agent. Japanese outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who is 27, will be posted by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. Left-handed starting pitcher Kim Kwang-Hyun, whose name may be familiar as he was posted in 2014 but was unable to come to terms with the San Diego Padres, has a more complicated case. The 31-year-old has a year remaining on his existing contract. Despite that, there is a chance he will be granted free agency and would not be subject to a posting fee. He may also be posted by his current club. Or he may stay put. He has been scouted by MLB teams, however, and so is included here. Right-handed starter Josh Lindblom, who last played in the States with the Pirates in 2017, has also generated some interest after a strong season with the Doosan Bears.


World Series Game 5 Chat

7:52
Paul Sporer: Welcome to the chat, everyone! Ben and I will be with your for the evening. Brutal news for the Nats shortly before game time with Max Scherzer being scratched due to severe back spasms. An uphill battle against Cole gets even tougher now!

7:53
Paul Sporer:

Who ya got for Game 5?

Houston (79.4% | 85 votes)
 
Washington (20.5% | 22 votes)
 

Total Votes: 107
7:55
Sonny: So…not a great 48 hours for the Nats

7:55
This is Lude-i-cris: Wow! Ya gotta feel terrible for Scherzer. It’s only the biggest game of his life!

7:56
kershaws the GOAT: lets go nats!!!

7:56
Belli Flop: I never thought I would say this: Go Joe Ross!

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World Series Game 4 Chat

8:05
Eric A Longenhagen: Howdy from Tempe, everyone. Hope your weekend started off well.

8:06
Meg Rowley: And hello from Seattle. I similarly hope you’ve all enjoyed your Saturday.

8:07
Eric A Longenhagen:

8:08
Meg Rowley: Who gets to write the World Series montage intros?

8:08
Meg Rowley: I feel like we’d be good at that. They should let us do it.

8:09
Eric A Longenhagen: Does the FCC have a pun cap?

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World Series Game 3 Chat

8:01
Avatar Dan Szymborski: Welcome to the Game 3 chat!

8:01
Avatar Dan Szymborski: This could be the penultimate chat of the 2019 season or possibly only the preantepenultimate chat!

8:04
Andrew: Let’s go, Nats!

8:04
Avatar Dan Szymborski: not let’s go Nats?

8:04
Avatar Dan Szymborski: Are you suggesting that you and the Nats should go somewhere? THERE’S AN IMPORTANT GAME STARTING

8:04
kevinthecomic: Walter Johnson throwing out the first pitch tonight?

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Contract Crowdsourcing 2019-20: Ballot 10 of 10

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract-crowdsourcing project this offseason, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2019-20 free-agent market.

Below are ballots for six of this year’s free agents — in this case, a group of potential-but-not-yet-for-sure free agents, some of whom will be among the best at their position should they hit the market. Stephen Strasburg, Aroldis Chapman, and J.D. Martinez have the ability to opt out of their existing contracts. Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas are bound to their current teams by an option that must be mutually exercised. Edwin Encarnación is subject to a team option. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Projected WAR figures from final the update of the 2019 Steamer forecast.


Contract Crowdsourcing 2019-20: Ballot 9 of 10

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract-crowdsourcing project this offseason, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2019-20 free-agent market.

Below are ballots for six of this year’s free agents — in this case, a group of starting pitchers. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Projected WAR figures from final the update of the 2019 Steamer forecast.


Contract Crowdsourcing 2019-20: Ballot 8 of 10

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract-crowdsourcing project this offseason, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2019-20 free-agent market.

Below are ballots for eight of this year’s free agents — in this case, a group of starting pitchers who might be considered a step down in terms of quality compared to those on the prior starting pitcher ballot. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Projected WAR figures from final the update of the 2019 Steamer forecast.


Contract Crowdsourcing 2019-20: Ballot 7 of 10

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract-crowdsourcing project this offseason, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2019-20 free-agent market.

Below are ballots for 10 of this year’s free agents — in this case, a group of interesting starting pitchers, a few of whom are very good, including the possible American League Cy Young Winner, Gerrit Cole. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Projected WAR figures from final the update of the 2019 Steamer forecast.


World Series Game 2 Chat

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Contract Crowdsourcing 2019-20: Ballot 6 of 10

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract-crowdsourcing project this offseason, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2019-20 free-agent market.

Below are ballots for three of this year’s free agents — in this case, a group of interesting relievers, some of whom had good seasons, others of whom dealt with injury or diminished effectiveness. Also, Drew Pomeranz. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Projected WAR figures from final the update of the 2019 Steamer forecast.